Book 19: Chapter 51
“My goddess, with the scale and sword in hand, watches over us. The balance is as natural as grass and wood. Punishment is decisively meted out to evil. Power and fairness are both necessary to becoming a monarch our goddess blesses. Our goddess watches us from above. The people look up. Fairness, justice and might are the qualities required of our nation’s monarch. The previous King was dedicated. May our new monarch remember the mission of our goddess. Once our goddess has passed on authority, she shall be crowned with her blood as the land. Now, we are gathered below Goddess, her scales and sharp sword. Welcome new Queen, Queen Vera Galaluocia!!”
Servants opened the door. The vassals on either side bowed. They hid their eyes from the gaze of the goddess, one that contained excitement, hatred, ambition, deep thoughts, gazes that a monarch would never lack. No matter when it was, a monarch was destined to experience those things, but Vera had already beared more than any other monarch had.
Vera’s lover abandoned her at a young age. Then, she came through despite every meeting with schemes and dangers every step of the way. She went from a small, weak Princess into a Queen clothed in extravagance. The crises she experienced each step were the steps she had to ascend to reach the throne. The naivety in her gaze gradually vanished and was replaced with an empty smile. She didn’t want that young man anymore; she desired the crown before her.
“Everyone,” called Vera, raising her eyebrow just lightly. She swept her gaze over the lowered heads on both sides. Nobody present held a higher status than her. There was nobody with a more prestigious status than her. She wore a confident and proud smile. She waved her arm clothed in a white glove. With a smile, she stated, “You may raise your heads.”
Vera’s white cloak rustled along with the sounds of her shoes stepping onto the ground. Vera walked with the poise of a composed and confident monarch. The nation never had a female monarch before. While she was wrapped in prosperity and luxury, she was in a more precarious situation than her father was. Despite that, though, the dangers were comparable to just another meal from her perspective. There were still people after her life. The rumours, gossip, slander and deliberate difficulties the vassals would impose upon her were insignificant to her.
The four sisters nervously followed her while trembling as they looked at the vassals on both sides. Though it felt somewhat shameful to wear such revealing clothing in front of people, the gazes of the people weren’t on them but on Miss Vera. Nona and Vera, who walked ahead of their sisters, were more worried about stepping on Miss Vera’s long cloak. Daisy could see Liu Yue’s fur that was standing up due to tension if she turned her head.
“Miss Vera?”
The pope at the other end watched Miss Vera approach. He went to proceed to the next step of the ceremony where Miss Vera would pray before the goddess to ensure she wouldn’t do anything to shame the goddess and pray for everyone. The pope would then wear the crown on for her. However, just as he approached her, she gently pushed him away.
Vera gave the pope a smile. She took the crown from his hands and wore it on for herself. She then looked over her shoulder and said, “Don’t stand on ceremony, my esteemed four maidens. Come. Come to me.”